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Mets, D-backs honor fallen firefighters

Mets, D-backs honor fallen firefighters

NEW YORK -- With the Arizona Diamondbacks in town, the Mets observed a moment of silence Monday to honor the 19 firefighters who died Sunday in Yarnell, Ariz..

The 19 firefighters died while fighting a forest fire in the small town about 80 miles north of Phoenix. Commissioner Bud Selig asked all clubs to hold moments of silence prior to tonight's games in light of the tragedy.

"Our hearts are aching for the fallen firefighters and the entire community turned upside down by this unfair act of weather and nature," Arizona's president and CEO Derrick Hall said in a statement. "It is devastatingly amazing how quickly our lives can change in a matter of moments. We understand our social responsibility and are fortunate to be in a position to assist those in need, as we have seen first-hand the impact we can have on our community."

The D-backs are also wearing black bands on their right arms tonight and will wear their black jerseys with Arizona across the front instead of the tradition D-backs when they return from their road trip. They will also sport a memorial patch honoring the victims for the rest of the season.

Both New York and Arizona are hanging jerseys in their dugouts with the No. 19 and the name "YARNELL" to honor the "Yarnell 19" who perished.

Chris Iseman and David Wilson are associate reporters for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.